<s>
Microsoft	B-Application
Flight	I-Application
Simulator	I-Application
98	I-Application
,	O
abbreviated	O
commonly	O
as	O
FS98	B-Application
,	O
is	O
a	O
flight	O
simulator	O
video	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
late	O
1997	O
for	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Flight	B-Application
Simulator	I-Application
98	I-Application
(	O
version	O
6.1	O
)	O
is	O
generally	O
regarded	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
service	O
release	O
"	O
,	O
offering	O
minor	O
improvements	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
few	O
notable	O
exceptions	O
:	O
The	O
simulator	O
now	O
also	O
featured	O
a	O
helicopter	O
(	O
the	O
Bell	O
206B	O
III	O
JetRanger	O
)	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
generally	O
improved	O
interface	O
for	O
adding	O
additional	O
aircraft	O
,	O
sceneries	O
,	O
and	O
sounds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
scenery	O
files	O
for	O
FS95	B-Application
are	O
forwards	O
compatible	O
with	O
FS98	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
release	O
also	O
included	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Device
Sidewinder	I-Device
Pro	O
Force	O
Feedback	O
joystick	O
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
receive	O
some	O
sensory	O
input	O
from	O
simulated	O
trim	O
forces	O
on	O
the	O
aircraft	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
version	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
3D-graphic	O
cards	O
,	O
through	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
DirectX	B-Application
technology	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
such	O
combination	O
of	O
hardware	O
and	O
software	O
,	O
FS98	B-Application
not	O
only	O
achieved	O
better	O
performance	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
implemented	O
better	O
haze/visibility	O
effects	O
,	O
"	O
virtual	O
cockpit	O
"	O
views	O
,	O
texture	O
filtering	O
,	O
and	O
sunrise/sunset	O
effects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
November	O
1997	O
,	O
Flight	B-Application
Simulator	I-Application
98	I-Application
had	O
shipped	O
one	O
million	O
units	O
,	O
following	O
its	O
September	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pete	O
Deemer	O
for	O
GameSpot	O
said	O
"	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Flight	I-Application
Simulator	I-Application
98	I-Application
is	O
an	O
impressive	O
feat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	B-Application
Flight	I-Application
Simulator	I-Application
98	I-Application
won	O
"	O
Computer	O
Simulation	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
the	O
"	O
Outstanding	O
Achievement	O
in	O
Software	O
Engineering	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
1st	O
Annual	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
(	O
now	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
D.I.C.E.	O
</s>
